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2019-12-13 Senate Minutes and Agenda
No full textMinutes and agenda for the December 13th, 2019 meeting of Saint Mary's University Senate
Deciding rational property definitions
Get PDF1 online resource (59 p.) : illustrations (some colour)Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-43).Language Equations is an area of Theoretical Computer Science that is concerned with expressing desirable constraints on formal languages of interest and answering algorithmic problems about such languages. Language Equations can be used as a means to express desirable properties a language can have. The LaSer system allows users to supply a regular language and a property described by a given transducer or trajectory, and return whether or not the language satisfes the given property. An important potential feature of LaSer is the ability to supply a rational language equation to LaSer, and allow it to decide this equation, that is, to test that the equation holds. This functionality has been implemented, and will be outlined in this paper
Measurement of proton-distribution radii of neutron-rich nitrogen isotopes
Get PDFPublished versionMeasurement of root-mean-square radii of proton distributions of 17–22N from charge-changing cross section shows the emergence of thick neutron skin towards the neutron-drip line. Signature of N = 14 shell gap has been found in nitrogen isotopes along with the emergence of neutron halo in 22N. The measured radii are in good agreement with the shell model calculations
A low-flux state in IRAS 00521−7054 seen with NuSTAR and XMM–Newton: relativistic reflection and an ultrafast outflow
Get PDFPublished versionWe present results from a deep, coordinated XMM–Newton + NuSTAR observation of the Seyfert 2 galaxy IRAS 00521−7054. The NuSTAR data provide the first detection of this source in high-energy X-rays (E > 10 keV), and the broad-band data show this to be a highly complex source which exhibits relativistic reflection from the inner accretion disc, further reprocessing by more distant material, neutral absorption, and evidence for ionized absorption in an extreme, ultrafast outflow (∨out ∼ 0.4c). Based on lamppost disc reflection models, we find evidence that the central supermassive black hole is rapidly rotating (α > 0.77), consistent with previous estimates from the profile of the relativistic iron line, and that the accretion disc is viewed at a fairly high inclination (í ∼ 59◦). Based on extensive simulations, we find the ultrafast outflow is detected at ∼4σ significance (or greater). We also estimate that the extreme outflow should be sufficient to power galaxy-scale feedback, and may even dominate the energetics of the total output from the system
LARgE Survey – I. Dead monsters: the massive end of the passive galaxy stellar mass function at cosmic noon
Get PDFAccepted versionWe introduce the largest to date survey of massive quiescent galaxies at redshift ζ ∼ 1.6. With these data, which cover 27.6 deg2, we can find significant numbers of very rare objects such as ultra-massive quiescent galaxies that populate the extreme massive end of the galaxy mass function, or dense environments that are likely to become present-day massive galaxy clusters. In this paper, the first in a series, we apply our gζKs adaptation of the BζK technique to select our ζ ∼ 1.6 galaxy catalogue and then study the quiescent galaxy stellar mass function with good statistics over M⋆ ∼ 1010.2_1011.7 M⊙ – a factor of 30 in mass – including 60 ultra-massive ζ ∼ 1.6 quiescent galaxies with M⋆ > 1011.5 M⊙. We find that the stellar mass function of quiescent galaxies at ζ ∼ 1.6 is well represented by the Schechter function over this large mass range. This suggests that the mass-quenching mechanism observed at lower redshifts must have already been well established by this epoch, and that it is likely due to a single physical mechanism over a wide range of mass. This close adherence to the Schechter shape also suggests that neither merging nor gravitational lensing significantly affects the observed quenched population. Finally, comparing measurements of M∗ parameters for quiescent and star-forming populations (ours and from the literature), we find hints of an offset (M∗SF>M∗PE), which could suggest that the efficiency of the quenching process evolves with time
Nurse staffing challenges
Get PDF1 online resource (93 pages) : colour charts, colour graphs.Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 72-86).In Nova Scotia, rural residents experience access barriers to health care linked to unplanned
temporary emergency department closures. Nurse staffing challenges are a persistent and
complex reason behind these closures. This qualitative study aims to understand nurse staffing
challenges in rural emergency departments in Nova Scotia's Western Zone. The study takes a
qualitative approach to inquiry inspired by phenomenological methods and uses the
experiences of emergency department managers to define and better understand staffing challenges. The findings of this study illuminated the importance of the management role and provided a better understanding of the complexities involved in staffing challenges, along with an examination of potential solutions
Inappropriate intimate image-based behaviours
Get PDF160 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cmIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-120).In 2015 Canada introduced a new law criminalizing the non-consensual distribution of intimate images (s.162.1, Canadian Criminal Code), however, to date the empirical literature surrounding non-consensual distribution of intimate images has been scare. Therefore, two studies examined four inappropriate intimate image-based behaviours (IIIBB; coerced sexting, entertainment-driven distribution of intimate images, revenge pornography and sextortion) in young adults. In total 630 participants aged 18-25 were recruited to participate in an online survey. Originally designed as a two-wave longitudinal study, these studies were reduced to one-wave due to high attrition and low base-rates for IIIBB. Study one examined correlates associated with the perpetration of IIIBB. Logistic regressions demonstrated that are different correlates for the
different IIIBB behaviours. Study two demonstrated that all forms of IIIBB victimization are associated with psychological distress and PTSD symptoms, however, the impact on social life did not mediate the relationship
Complex relationships : the state, privateers, & organized crime
Get PDF1 online resource (68 pages)Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-61).The purpose of this research is to examine the history and nature of privateers during the 17th through the 19th centuries with the aim in answering this question: Using contemporary definitions, can the business of privateering can be categorized as organized crime? Privateering has long been considered, not only a legal course of reprisal for wartime losses, but also a heroic action that was celebrated, at least on the side of the privateer. The reality is more complex. In order to explain why privateers were employed despite the harm they perpetrated throughout the Maritimes during the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries, this paper incorporates a blend of sociology, criminology, Atlantic Canadian history, and political economy to show the connection between privateering and organized crime. It draws on a combination of sources to gather data on the complex history and nature of privateering. It also applies a combination of definitions to show that this class of mercenary/merchant marine were not only necessary in establishing the interests of foreign powers in Canada, but were also instrumental in the foundation and development of the early government in the Maritimes; shaping the course Canada would rise to or take in the coming two centuries. Finally, Stephen Schneider’s 23-point comprehensive taxonomy of the characteristics of an organized crime conspiracy is applied, along with the historical and contemporary evidence to point to a classification of privateering as organized crime
Simulating Hubble XDF observations for the next generation of space telescopes
Get PDF1 online resource ( ix, 83 pages) : illustrations (chiefly colour)Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 82-83).This research created spatially resolved exposure simulations for 4457 galaxies in the eXtreme Deep Field for CASTOR and WFIRST and Euclid bandwidths. This next generation of space based observatories will improve on Hubble and GALEX observations in depth, bandwidth range and survey area. The Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and ultraviolet Research (CASTOR), currently in the design study phase, is a proposed mission in ultraviolet and optical bands. It will cover a large survey field while improving on resolution and sensitivity of its predecessor
GALEX. CASTOR observations will be complimentary to NASA's Wide-Field
Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) and ESA's Euclid spacecraft. By investigating the information that these simulations provide, insight is gained into the possible performance of the observatories. A noise simulation was developed for CASTOR bandwidths and compared to WFIRST sensitivities in its bandwidths. From a comparison of proposed CASTOR filters it was found that the G, U and UV filters produce the best SNR. A selection of galaxies spanning a range of magnitudes from 22-27 (F140W AB) and range of redshifts from 0.5-2.0 were examined. It was found that for objects
approaching redshifts of 2.0 and magnitudes of 27 it will be difficult to do
research involving spatially resolved SED fitting with 100 hour observations. While for objects with a redshifts of 0.5-1.5 and magnitudes of 22-24, 100 hour observations provide excellent SNR. Further, similar results will be achieved in 10 hour observations by WFIRST in its IR bandwidths
Conflict resolution in a Halifax elementary school
Get PDF1 online resource (iv, 68 pages) : colour illustrationsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 65-68).This thesis is an ethnographic study of conflict and conflict resolution at a Halifax elementary school. It describes the skills and techniques that students are taught at the school to handle their conflicts and the ethnomethods they actually use to resolve conflict with their peers. Using ethnoconflictology (Lederach 1998) as a framework for analysis, this thesis applies anthropological definitions of conflict, common sense, and local reality to understand the conflict resolution practices in the school. The practices presented are broken down into categories of institutional and operational conflict resolution for analysis. The participating research school is a Christian private school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and as such the influence of Christianity on their conflict resolution practices is also discussed. Conflict resolution and anthropology do not often cross in academic work, and therefore this thesis contributes to a new and growing body of ethnographic studies of conflict resolution